Chapter II

SOWING THE SEED
(NOVEMBER 1856-AUGUST 1857)

Power of departmental passive resistance: delay in setting up the
Commission. Lord Panmure's gout--"The Bison is bullyable"--Miss
Nightingale's weapon in reserve: her potential command of the
public ear. II. The "Chelsea Board": the McNeill-Tulloch _affaire_
--Parliamentary pressure on the Government. III. Miss Nightingale's
friendship with Lord Stanley--Miss Nightingale and the China
expedition--The Netley Hospital--Her negotiations with Lord Panmure
--Visit to Lord Palmerston--Her "fight for the pavilion." IV. Her
preparation for the Royal Commission by writing her own official
Report--Lord Panmure's instructions--This Report, the most
remarkable of her works--Account of it. V. The experts and Miss
Nightingale--Her inspection of hospitals and barracks--Visit to
Chatham--Reform at Chelsea--Miss Nightingale and Robert Lowe--The
proposed Army Medical School--Her suggestions of soldiers'
reading-rooms. VI. The Royal Commission set up--Interview with Lord
Panmure--Her revision of the instructions--Mr. Herbert's industry
as chairman--Miss Nightingale's assistance--Dr. Sutherland--Her
interviews with witnesses, suggestions for their examination--Her
own evidence. VII. Report of the Commission--Its salient feature,
the high rate of mortality in the barracks--Mr. Herbert and Miss
Nightingale resolved on securing prompt reforms 334

CHAPTER III
ENFORCING A REPORT
(AUGUST-DECEMBER 1857)

Frequent futility of Royal Commissions. Mr. Herbert's and Miss
Nightingale's plans for averting the danger--Proposed series of
Sub-Commissions to settle the details of reform--Lord Panmure off
to Scotland--Departmental objections--Delay in appointing the
Sub-Commissions--Miss Nightingale's labours. II. Over-work--Dr.
Sutherland's expostulations--Her refusal to rest. III. The Indian
Mutiny--Miss Nightingale's offer to go out. Her life at this period
--Miss Nightingale's daily work with her allies--Ill-health--
Testamentary dispositions 362